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The composition of the 110th Congress offers us the brightest prospects we have seen in years for passage of a strong national renewable electricity standard. A national standard would create a large and growing market for clean and homegrown renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and bioenergy.
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With a 20% national renewable electricity standard, America would increase its total homegrown renewable power capacity six times over present levels—from about 20 gigawatts (GW) in 2005 to 121 GW by 2030. |
The U.S. Senate has passed a renewable electricity standard bill three times since 2002, but the full House of Representatives has never even been given an opportunity to vote on one. With new House leadership and a high level of public support for renewable energy, we are more hopeful than ever that House members will at last get a chance to vote for clean energy, too. The national renewable electricity standard proposal in the House would require that utilities acquire 20 percent clean, renewable energy by 2020, while a 15 percent by 2020 standard is expected in the Senate. Both bills would significantly increase America’s use of renewable energy.
A national coalition has formed to pass the bill. Activists can play a critical role in the campaign by contacting their representatives to urge them to support the House and Senate bill.
"We urge the Energy Committee to immediately adopt the Renewable Portfolio Standard (for electricity). . . "
~ Letter from James Woolsey (former CIA director), Robert McFarlane (former NSA Advisor to Pres. Reagan), and Ret. Adm. Thomas Moorer (former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) to 16 senators in 2001 (.pdf)
Table of Contents
- Take Individual Action - Make Your Voice Heard
- Take Collective Action - Join Our Growing Coalition
- Details of National Renewable Electricity Standard Proposals
- Benefits of the Renewable Electricity Standard and Analysis
- Supporters in Congress
- News about the Campaign
- Contact Information
Take Individual Action - Make Your Voice Heard
- Send an email to your member of Congress urging them to sign on as a co-sponsor of the national renewable electricity standard.
- Have an even bigger impact:
- Get tips about writing letters to the editor, arranging a meeting with your member of Congress, and more from our activist resource center
Take Collective Action -- Join Our Growing Coalition
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- State-by-state list of past endorsers of a national renewable electricity standard.
- Download the endorsement letter.
- To add your organization as an endorser of the national renewable electricity standard, contact Ben Larson, Clean Energy National Field Coordinator, 202-331-6941 or blarson [at] ucsusa.org.
- National Coalition:
Blue Green Alliance, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Greenpeace, League of Conservation Voters, National Audubon Society, National Environmental Trust, Natural Resources Defense Council, Public Citizen of TX, Sierra Club, Sierra Club Cool Cities, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, United Steelworkers of America, US PIRG, and the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC).
Details of National Renewable Electricity Standard Proposals
A renewable electricity standard bill, known as H.R. 969 (110th Congress) was introduced in the House on February 8, 2007. The renewable electricity standard bill will require that utilities acquire 20 percent clean, renewable energy by 2020. A 15 percent standard by 2020 is expected in the Senate.
Benefits of the Renewable Electricity Standard and Analysis
- Job Creation - 185,000 new jobs from renewable energy development
- Economic Development - $66.7 billion in new capital investment, $25.6 billion in income to farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners, and $2 billion in new local tax revenues
- Consumer Savings - $10.5 billion in lower electricity and natural gas bills by 2020 (growing to $31.8 billion by 2030)
- Healthier Environment - Reductions of global warming pollution equal to taking 36.4 million cars off the road, plus less haze, smog, acid rain, mercury contamination, and water use
- For more details on the economic benefits of the national renewable electricity standard, see UCS's factsheets: Cashing in on Clean Energy: A National Renewable Electricity Standard Will Benefit the Economy and the Environment.
Also see the benefits for the Southeastern United States (download_.pdf)
- National Security:
- UCS Report | Energy Security: Solutions to Protect America's Power Supply and Reduce Oil Dependence (download .pdf)
- Letter from James Woolsey (former CIA director), Robert McFarlane (former NSA Advisor to Pres. Reagan), and Ret. Adm. Thomas Moorer (former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) to 16 senators in 2001 (download .pdf)
- Key Driver of Renewable Energy: Experts Agree: Renewable Electricity Standards are a Key Driver of New Renewable Energy Development
- Global Warming Solution: Mitigating Global Warming—Renewable Electricity Standards
Supporters in Congress
News About the Renewable Electricity Standard Campaign
"Senate Democrats See Opening for Renewable Standard," CQ Green Sheets, May 25, 2007
"Senate Pushes Utilities on 'Green' Sources," Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2007
Contact Information
For more information about the national renewable electricity standard campaign contact Ben Larson, Clean Energy National Field Coordinator: 202-331-6941 or blarson [at] ucsusa.org.
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